NEW ZEALAND TO LEAD THE WAY

Northern Advocate, 12 June 1937, Page 5

NEW ZEALAND TO LEAD THE WAY

Government’s Message To Trades Unionists (Received 2 p.m.) LONDON, June 11. Mr M. J, Savage, speaking at the National Trade Union Club luncheon, declared: “We told New Zealand bankers there was no need to put wet towels around their heads, but if we don’t get service on economic lines we are going to provide it ourselves. “Nobody is going to be allowed to stand in the w*ay of New Zealand’s progress. We have begun by shortening hours of labour and raising wages to give the people a share of New Zealand’s production.” At Geneva, Mr H. T. Armstrong, at the International Labour Conference, said New Zealand once led the world in social reforms, and would not rest until she regained that proud position.

Mr Armstrong detailed the Government’s reforms, aiming to remove entirely the fear of want, and added: “When our reforms were proposed the employers feared ruin. Now the employers and workers are more prosperous than ever before.” He said the Government proposed to ratify the labour conventions applicable to New Zealand, which would collaborate closely with the conference, and he hoped to obtain membership of the governing body. He also hoped a director or representative would .shortly visit New Zealand from Geneva.